It didn't take very long for media pundits to latch onto the humor of ex-Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer's intent on buying the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ballmer has reportedly offered $2 billion to buy the Clippers from disgraced owner Donald Sterling and his wife, and is the front-runner to become the Clippers' new owner.

Will "Clippy" the paperclip mascot return?

"Clippy" was "the little paperclip with the soulful eyes and the Groucho eyebrows. The electronic ham who politely offers hints for using Microsoft Office software." It originally appeared on Microsoft Office 97 in 1997 but was retired by Microsoft(NASDAQ: MSFT) in 2001.

"I see you're trying to run a basketball franchise, do you need help?" and "New Clipper mascot" immediately began flooding onto the internet after Ballmer's plans were publicized, according to news reports.